Circuit-breaking mechanism.



IL. $UUTT= CIRCUIT BREAKING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1, 1905.

@fiSgWGQ v Patented July 1m 3 SHEETB-BHEET 1.

W. M. SCOTT.

GIRCUIT BREAKING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1,1905,

963,476, Patented July 5, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

(1 time 1 W. M. SCOTT.

CIRCUIT BREAKING MECHANISM.

AIPPLIOATION FILED MAR.1,1905;

963,476, Patented July 5, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. SCOTT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE CUTTER ELECTRICAL AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CGRPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CIRCUIT-BREAKING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J ul-y 5, 1910.

Application filed March 1, 1905. Serial No. 247,914.

To all whom it may, concern:

lie it known that I, \ViLLIAM M. Soo'rr, a citizen of the'United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and use- .ful Circuit-Breaking Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My inventionrelates to apparatus for controlling or breaking circuits .carrying cur- 1o rents of large volume such as are employed in electric lighting, electric power transmission, and the like.

My invention resides in circuit breaking mechanism involving a plurality of interconnected circuit breakers, disposed preferably one vertically above another so as to economize space laterally upon a switch board or the like.

My invention resides also in interconnected circuit breakers so disposed that the response of one to certain circuit conditions will result in the tripping of another or others, and in the additional feature that one of a plurality of interconnected circuit v breakers may respond to one kind or degree of circuit condition, while another may respond to another kind or degree of circuit condition.

My invention resides also in a plurality 3.0 of interconnected circuit breakers whose tripping and operating mechanisms are so disposed that it shall be impossible to fully close the circuit breakers during the continuance of any one of a plurality of predeten mined circuit conditions.

My invention resides in other features of arrangement and construction hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

For an illustration of one of the numerous forms my invention may take, reference is .to be had to. the accompanying drawings, in

' which Figure 1 is a side elevational view of two interconnected circuit breakers. Fig. l is a plan view of the lever 68 and its attachments. Fig. l is a side elevation of the lever (38 and its attachments. Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the lever (57. Fig. l is a side elevation of the latch (34. Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the lever 75 and its attachments. Fig.

1 is a plan view of the lever 75 and its attachments. Fig. :3 is a front cleval ional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a diagrz'mnmitic view of circuit arrangemcnts.v

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3 of the draw ings, 1 represents a base of insulating'mateirial, such as slate or marble and may be a portion of a switch board. 2 and 3 are switch terminal blocks or contact terminals consisting preferably of masses of copper secured to the front of the switch board or base 1 by means of bolts 41 and 5 respectively which serve also as means for conducting current to or from such terminal blocks. 6 is a laminated bridging member adapted to conductively connect the terminals 2 and 3 by engaging them upontheir front faces. 7 is an arm pivoted to the-frame 8 at 9 and supports the laminated bridging member 6, though insulated from it. 10 is a link pivoted to the arm 7 at 11, and at 12 to the lever 13 pivoted at 14 in the frame 8. The link 10 and the lever .13 constitute a toggle for cramping the laminated bridging membeer 6 into firm engagement with the terminals 2 and 3. \Vhen in the circuit closing position, as shown in Fig. 1, the toggle falls slightly short of being fully extended. 15 is an extension of the lever 13 and carries at its lower extremity a roller 16 pivoted at 17. 18 is a latch pivoted to the frame 8 at 19 and adapted to engage the roller 16 to lock the switch in the position shown in Fig. 1. The latch 18 terminates to the left of the pivot 19 in the jaw 18 embracing the pin 18" secured to the frame 8 and adapted to limit the travel of the latch 18. 20 is a lever pivoted at 19 independently of the latch 18 and carries at its outer end the screw 20' adapted to strike the top of the latch 18.

The lever 20 extends into the path of travel I of the member 20 pivoted to the frame 8 at 21. An extension 20" of the member 20 carries the iron armature 22 cooperating with the pole pieces 23 formed on a mass of iron held between the base 1 and the reccssed terminal 3 and embracing the terminal 3, and thus constituting-an electro-. magnet responsive to the current flowing from one terminal to the other through the bridging member 6. Supported by but in sulatcd from the arm 7 and from the 1aminated bridging member 6 are the movable metallic and carbon "shunt contacts 24and 25 respectively, which are in permanent elecf trical communication with the lower contact block 3. The metallic shunt contact 94 ongages the metallic member 26 supported upon or in electrical communication with the upper terminal block 2, and tho'movable shunt carbon 25, pivoted at 27, contacts with the stationaryjshuntcarbon 28, pivoted at 29 to .a'bra'cket'supported upon and in .elec trical communication with the upper main contact 2, in the manner well 'i'niderstood in this art.

The apparatus thus far described constitutes an automatic magneticcircuitibreaker which, upon the flow of a predetermined value ofcurrent through the laminated bridging member. 6, is caused to interrupt terminals 2 and 3. Immediately after the laminated bridging member has separated from contactblocks 2 and 13, the metallic shunt contact24 separates from its ciompan-v ion terminal. 26, and finally the carbon 25 separates from the carbon 28, Where the final break occurs in the manner well understood in this art. Thespring 30 is connected at 32 to the arm 7., and at-33 to an car on the frame 8 Similarly the spring 31 is connected. at one end at 33 and at the other end at 34 to the toggle lever 13. I \Vhen the circuit breaker has completed its opening movement the boss 35 on the arm 7 rests upon the lug 36 upon the-lever. 13. I Directly below the circuit breaker justdescribed is mounted a second circuitbreaker upon the base or switch board 1. In this lower circuit breaker 37 and 38 are the two main contact terminals secured to thebase 1, and in practically vertical alinement with the blocks 2 and 3 of the upper switch. The bolt 39 secures the contact terminal 37 and serves also as means for electrical communication .witht-he terminal block 37. Q

40 is a laminated bridging member, similar to bridging member 6, and is adapted to eonductively bridge theterminal blocks 37 and 38. The laminated member 40 is supported. by and insulated from the arm .41 pivoted tothe frame 42 at 4.3.

44 is a link pivoted to the arm.41, at 45, and at 46 to the lever 47 pivoted to the frame 42 at 48. The link 44 and the lever 47 constitute a toggle for cramping the bridging member 40 into firm engagement with the terminal blocks 37 and 38.l

At49 and. 50 are shown spiral springs unf.

dertens'ion the spring .49 heingsecured at When this tripping mechanism.

to an ear on the frame 42. The spring 50 is secured at its one end at 52 and at itsotherend at 53 to the toggle-lever 47. The toggle lever 47 has the extension 54 carrying the roller 55 pivoted at 56, and the roller 57 pivoted at 58.

59 is a latch pivoted at 60 to the oper-- ators handle or lever or actuator 61, and adapted to engage the roller 55 to lock the operators handle 61 to the member 54. The operators handle or actuator 61 is pivoted to the frame 42 at 48'concentric with and and adapted to engage the roller 57 tolock the member 54 to the base in circuit closing position, asshown in Fig. 1.

The latch 64 terminates to the .left of the pivot- 65 in a jaw embracing the pin 66 in the frame 42 for limiting the travel of the latch 64.

67 is a lever pivoted at 65 independentlyv from the latch 64 and terminates to the left of the pivot 65 in a jaw similar to that of latch 64 andis also limited in its motion by' the pin 66. v V

68 is a lever pivoted at 65 independently from the latch64 and the lever 67, and terminates at its outer end in the transversely extending piece 69. This piece 69 has the two inclined surfaces g and h.

69 is a member pivoted at 2' upon the actuator 61 and is limited in its clockwise rotation about such pivot by the pin 0 also carried by the actuator 61. Upon a slight reversed movement of the actuator. 61, the lower end of the, member 69 rides up upon the surface 9 thus rotating the lever 68 in a clockwise direction and actuating the latches 18, 59 and 64, with resultant opening of both circuit breakers. Upon the depression of the actuator 61 however, the member 69 rides over the inclined surface it without effecting any result, and when the 42 at7l and having the upward extension 72 carrying the iron armature 73, coiiperatmg w th the oles 74 of a mass of iron held between the use 1 and the terminal 381m constitute an electro-magnet When the current thrbugh the bridging memberv 40 reaches a predetermined value, the armature 7 3 is attracted toward the poles 74, causing the member to strike the under side of the tail of lever 68, causing such lever to rotate in a clockwise direction upon the pivot 65. During this rotation of the lever 68 the transversely extending member 68' causes the. screws carried thereby to strike the upper sidesof the latch 64 and the lever 67. .This causes the latch 64 to release the roller 57, thereby. releasing the member 54 and permitting the toggle 44, 47 to collapse and cause thelaminated bridging member 40 to separate from the main terminals 37 and 38. Practically simultaneously with, or slightly after, the release of the member 54: from latch 64:, the lever 67 strikes the tail of the latch 59, causing such latch to rotate in aflcounter clockwise direction about its pivot 60, thus disconnecting the actuator .or operatorshandle ,61 from. the member 54. i

Soon after the laminated member. 40 has separated from the stationary contact terminals, the movable metallic shunt contact 40 separates from the stationary metallic shunt contact 10 which is a downward extension from the mainterminal block 37. The contact 40 is in electrical communication with the bridging member 40 and terminates in the contact a cooperating with the resilient'or plunger contact b secured upon the base 1. These contacts a and 6 control the circuit of' the shunt windings 89 and 90', hereinafter described, and as shown in Fig. 3.

In electrical communication with the lower contact terminal 38, and supported by but insulated from the pivoted arm 41, is the movable shunt carbon contact 0 which cooperates with the stationary shunt carbon contact d, pivoted at e to a bracket secured to and in electrical communication with the upper terminal block 37. A spring f tends to keep the carbon at in its lowest position. The carbons c and (Z overlap each other to a considerable extent, and to a greater extent than the carbons 25 and 28 of the upper circuit breaker, for the purposes hereinafter pointed out.

is a lever pivoted at 65 andsecured to the lever 68. To the outer extension of the lever 75 is pivoted the vertically extending rod 76 which is pivoted at its upper end at 77' to the crank member 77 secured to the lever 20 and movable about the pivot- 19. The upper end of the rod 76 is screw threaded to receive the nuts 78 and 7 9 which determine the position of the connecting member 80. The connecting member 80 is insulated from the rod 76. Similarly the vertically extending rod 81 is pivoted at its lower end at 81 to the member 54 and at its upper end is pivoted to the member 15 at 82.

83 is a connector between the pivot 89 and the rod 81 and is insulated from the rod 81. The nuts 8% and 85, engaging screw threads upon the upper end of the rod 81,

88. i The armature 86 and core 8'Z are .rotatable about the axis ofthe core 87.

89 and 90 are transversely extending cores surrounded by the shunt windings 89 and 90 respectively, and between these cores the armature 86 is adapted to play.

91 is an eXtensionsecured-upon the armature 86 and serves to strike the lever 75 upon the occurrence of reversed current or re versed energy flow. The .one terminal of the series coil 88 connects with the contact 92 secured to the .front of the base or switch board 1 by means of the bolt 93 which serves also for electrical communication with contact 92. The other end of the series coil 88 is connected to the lower. end of the main terminal block 38.

From the foregoing description it is ap parentthat a plurality of narrow edgewise type circuit breakers are arrangedone vertically above the other, that is, in practically vertical alinement, upon a switch board, as is evident from an inspection of Fig.

As seen in Fig. 3, a circuit breaker is connected-in each side or conductor of a circuit, the two circuit breakers being interconnected in a pair as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. If an abnormal electrical condition obtains in either side or conductor of a circuit, both circuit breakers aretripped with the resultant opening of both sides or conductors of a circuit. Furthermore upon attempted closure during the continuance or existence of abnormal electrical conditions, both circuit breakers again spring to open circuit position. I

The operation of the circuit breaking mechanism is as follows :Assuming the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1, upon the occurrence of an excessive flow of current through the bridging member 6, the armature 22 is attracted with resultant release of the roller 16 from the latch 18, as heretofore described. Since the vertically extending rod 76 is connected with the lever 20 through the crank member 77, the attraction of the armature 22 causes. in addition to the actuation of the latch 18, the actua tion of the rod 76 in a downward direction. This results in the transmission of a force .or blow through the member 7 5 to the lever current flows through the bridging member 10 of the lower circuit breaker, the armature 73 is attracted and delivers a blow to the lever 68, resulting in the actuation of latches 59 and (34 as described. Simultaneously however, the yertically extending rod 76 is actuated, and there is transmitted a force or blow to the latch 18 to release the member 15 of the upper circuit breaker. Or should there occur a reversal of current or energy flow, the armature 86 rotates in a counter clockwise direction as viewed in Fig! 1, causing the member 91 to strike the lever 75 with resultant actuation of latches 59 and 64 and, a simultaneous actuation of the latch 18 of the upper circuit breaker, thus again causing both circuit breakers to fly to open circuit position.

It will be observed that the tripping mechanism connecting member or rod 7 6 is so connected, disposed and arranged that the weight of the rod 76 need not be overcome or lifted by any of the tripping magnets. On the contrary, the arrangement is such that the weight of the rod 76 exerts a force in such direction as to make the trip-' ping more sensitive and easy.

Assuming the parts to be in the open circuit position, the operating handleGl is disconnected from the member 54 and obviously also from the member 15. To close the circuit breakers the actuator or operators handle 61 is raised until the latch 59 engages the roller 55 in the member 54. Then by depressing the actuator 61 the members 15 and 54 are simultaneously operated with resultant extension of the toggles 10, 18, and 44, 47, thus bringing the parts into circuit closing position, and when full circuit position is reached, the latch 18 engages the roller 16 to lock the upper circuit breaker, and similarly the latch (34. engages the roller 57 to lock the lower circuit breaker. If, however, during the closing movement, abnormal electrical conditions obtain, such as reversed current or energy he is powerless to close the circuit or hold it closed during the continuance of such abnormal electrical conditions.

Since one circuit breaker is located directly below the other and' since the are formed at the final separation of the carbons tends to rise vertically, the carbons of the two circuit breakers are so disposed that sear/e ther shielded in this respect from the fact that the carbons of the lower, circuit breaker overlap each other greatly so that the final break occurs at a considerable distance infront of the switch board, and at a safe distance away from the parts of the upper circuit breaker.

While the circuit breakers'herein shown and described are of the laminated type -it is to be understood that they may be of any other suitable type, such as the knife blade type.

Though the bridging members of the circuit breakers shown in Fig. 1 are connected in series with each other in the same electric circuit, (see Fig. 3), it is to-be understood that the bridging member 6 may control a circuit separate and independent from the circuit controlled by the bridging member 10.

that I claim is Y 1. In combination, a plurality of interconnected electric switches disposed one vertically above the other and each comprising a main movable contact member and shunt contacts, the shunt contacts being adapted to separate after the main contact, and the shunt contacts of the several switches being so disposed that the shunt contacts of an upper switch separate before those of a lower switch.

2. In combination, aplurality of electric switches, each comprising main and shunt contacts located in vertical alinement, the switches being arranged one above the other, and the shunt contacts of an upper switch being arranged to open before the shunt contacts of a lower switch.

3. In combination, a plurality of electric switches each con'iprising main and shunt contacts arranged in substantial vertical alinement, and the main and shunt contacts of all switches arranged in substantial vertical alinement, the shunt contacts of an upper switch adapted to open before the shunt contacts of a lower switch.

4. In combination, a plurality of electric switches disposed one above the other and each comprising a main movable contact member and shunt contacts, the shunt contacts being adapted to separate after the main contact, and the shunt contacts of the several switches being so disposed that the shunt contacts of an upper switch separate after the main contact of a lower switch.

5. In combination, a plurality of electric switches disposed one above the other each 6. In combination, a plurality of electric switches disposed one above the other each comprising a main movable contact member and shunt contacts, a member connecting the movable contact members of the several switches, and the shunt contacts of the several switches being so disposed that the shunt contacts of an upper switch separate before those of a lower switch.

7. In combination, a plurality of electric switches disposed one above the other each comprising a main movable contact member and shunt contacts, a member connecting the movable contact members of the several switches and the shunt contacts of the several switches being so disposed that the shunt contacts of an upper switch separate after the main contacts of a lower switch but before the shunt contacts of a lower switch.

8. In combination, a plurality of electric switches disposed one above the otherand each comprising a movable contact member and means for locking the same in normal position, means common to all the switches for simultaneously tripping the same, and electro-re'sponsive means for operating said connnon tripping means, said common tripping means being so disposed that its weight exerts a force in a direction to assist said electro-responsive means.

9. In combination, a plurality of electric switches, each switch comprising a movable contact member and a latch for locking the same in normal position, 'a member for actu ating the latches of all the switches, and electro-responsive means for actuating said member, said member being so disposed that its weight exerts a force in a direction to assist said electro-responsive means.

10. In combination, a plurality of electric switches disposed one above the other, each switch comprising a movable contact member and a latch for restraining the same in normal position, a pivoted latch actuator in each switch, and a member uniting the latch actuators of all the switches, said member being connected to said latch actuators in such position that its weight exerts a force in a direction-to assist in actuating said latches.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature this 28th day of February, 1905.

WILLIAM M. SCOTT.

lrVit-nesses EDI'rH N. BAI-IN, ALICE S. MARSH. 

